Participants in an informal meeting of the EU General Affairs Council, held in Arles (Arles, France) on March 3-4, voiced strong calls to send a clear message about Ukraine's European prospects, Maroš Šefčovič, Vice-President of the European Commission for Interinstitutional Relations & Foresight, wrote following the meeting.

"Ukraine has shown on every single day during these testing times that its heart beats in time with our European values. This cannot fall on deaf ears. I was glad to hear around the table strong calls to send a clear signal that we want Ukraine in," he said on Twitter.

At the meeting, Deputy Minister for European Affairs of the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Märt Volmer confirmed Estonia's unwavering support for Ukraine and stressed the importance of recognizing Ukraine's application for EU membership.

Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica, Parliamentary Secretary of the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stressed that it has now become clear that Russia's armed aggression against Ukraine is an attempt to stop democratic processes in Europe. "The future of all of us depends on the unity of the EU's actions at this critical stage; therefore, the EU must grant Ukraine candidate status," she was quoted as saying on the website of the Latvian Foreign Ministry.

Kalniņa-Lukaševica told the audience that on March 3, the Seimas unanimously decided to support granting Ukraine the status of an EU candidate country, and also adopted a law in support of Ukrainian citizens and amendments to legislation allowing Latvian citizens to serve in the Ukrainian armed forces.

In general, the topic of granting Ukraine the status of an EU candidate country, according to the Latvian Foreign Ministry, was among the main topics of the informal meeting, which is held every six months. Other topics included Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the support given by EU member states to Ukraine.

"We must confirm that Ukraine belongs to Europe, for whose values it is now fighting so heroically, and we must use all possible means to help Ukraine," the Latvian Foreign Ministry's parliamentary secretary said.

The General Affairs Council meets monthly and ensures the coordinated nature of the work of the various formations of the EU Council. Informal meetings of the General Affairs Council are convened every six months. In the first half of 2022, these meetings are chaired by the French Presidency of the Council of the EU.

In cooperation with the President of the European Council and with the European Commission, he prepares the meetings of the European Council and ensures the implementation of the decisions taken at them.